The Queen has a Riott on her hands

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ruby Riott

Two nights after the first ever women’s Royal Rumble match, Charlotte Flair was in the ring on SmackDown Live contemplating potential challengers for her women’s championship at WrestleMania 34, such as Asuka or Ronda Rousey.

This brought out the Riott Squad. Their leader Ruby Riott made it clear that she’s dealt with incredibly talented but incredibly entitled people like Charlotte her whole life. Ruby said that there is only one Ruby Riott, whereas Charlotte was just a cheap imitation of Ric Flair. The Riott Squad was here to ensure that Charlotte didn’t make it to WrestleMania 34 as the SmackDown women’s champion.

A brawl ensued and the Riott Squad laid out Charlotte, prompting Carmella to run down to the ring with her Money in the Bank briefcase. However Carmella decided to take her briefcase and bail after she accidentally kicked the referee out of the ring.

Charlotte was enraged with the Riott Squad for nearly costing her the title, so she embarked on a personal quest to take out every single member of their group. Over the next two weeks of television, Charlotte defeated both Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan in separate singles matches.

Ruby Riott countered this strategy by targeting Charlotte’s allies, Becky Lynch and Naomi. Ruby pinned Becky Lynch in a 6-woman tag team match and then defeated Naomi in a singles match the following week.

Charlotte decided to put her championship on the line at Fastlane against Ruby Riott in order to bring this conflict to a decisive finish. Ruby and the Queen had one final verbal spar on the mic where Ruby said she was sick of Charlotte for getting so much credit for the women’s revolution in WWE, so she specifically created the Riott Squad after Charlotte won the title in November in order to destroy that Flair myth.

Just when it looked like the Riott Squad was about to group attack Charlotte again, Bobby Roode gloriously walked down to the ring and made sure his Mixed Match Challenge partner walked out of the ring unscathed.

So that’s where things stand with the SmackDown women’s championship heading into Fastlane. Charlotte and Ruby have conquered each other’s allies and only have each other left to beat, but Carmella’s Money in the Bank briefcase also lingers in the background as a variable that could turn everything upside down in a blink.

Find out which superstar walks out as Women’s Champ by tuning into Fastlane 2018 and keeping it right here at Cageside Seats!